'Can't come out before partner's parents; they'll regard us as criminals'

The activist had resolved to reveal their sexual identity before his partner’s parents, and seek their permission to settle down together, expecting the apex court to endorse the 2009 Delhi High Court verdict that decriminalised gay sex. “Now his parents would regard us as criminals, since sex between two consenting adults of the same gender is illegal, according to the law.” A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court struck down the landmark Delhi HC ruling, which found that section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, prohibiting ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’, infringed the fundamental rights of citizens.

Bindumadhav Khire, convener of Samapathik Trust that works for the LGBT community, said that the verdict would have compounding effect on health issues faced by homosexuals, and cases of HIV were likely to rise, as NGOs would stop distributing condoms to groups working for the community, as the verdict has cast a shadow over the legality of same-sex relationships. “Episodes of blackmailing, and seeking revenge from LGBT community members will go up, as henceforth, homosexuality would be considered a crime,” added Khire. He, however, said that LGBT persons would raise their voice against this verdict by filing a review petition.

“Going ahead, we will are even likely to file a curative petition, which is advanced by a senior advocate to get relief against the final judgment of SC after dismissal of a review petition,” he said. Rajesh More, who’s a transgender person, pointed out that due to the verdict, people would treat LGBT community members as outcasts, and those who were illiterate would again be drawn into the vicious cycle of prostitution. “As the law itself assumes that gay people are criminals, they would automatically be shunned by society. With this decision, LGBT persons would not get many opportunities to work, which would impel them to go into prostitution,” said More.